The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-04-06
WHOLE NO. 1864.
A Convict's Romance

a romance that has long been hidden
has Just come 20 light. writes Jefferson.
vile. Ind correspondent, Co rhe -. Louis
GL5e-Democr1f Thirty-eight years ago
Calvin Lyons WIS young mechanic IN
Posy county. Indiana II had but one
fault. and that was excessive indulgence
in intoxicants One night be quarreleI
with a bosom friend with whom he was
drinking. in a saloon, and shot him
through the heart The Young man was
tried, convicted ofmansi3lzhter. and ~ent
70 the prison south. at Jefer-0uville. for
tweaty-0ue years. He served tu5 years
and one cold nlrht in March, lS5o. be
resolved 10 escape or die He had secret
Is made tools, and had them hidden TO
his cell When the great bell began toll
ing the bour Of g o'clock ne commenced
the work Of cutting hole in the wall
H worked iudusrriously and soon haj
one cut through. and was In the corridor.
Here another wall three feet thick COM
froated him Nothing daunted be- went
to work. and ia % couple OF hours had cu5
a hole big enough 60 cuw. -hrouE=
He then made the startling discovery
that the hole wa- III least forty f-e- from
the ground. While he was cousil ring
what had best be done, the guard came
along and discovered him. Before the ls--
ter could make an outcrv LYONS -prn-
upon him. and being powerful man
soon had the official insenSj5l- upon the
floor. It required bur d few minutes 90
bind eas. and strip the man of i-cI1-he-,
which Lyons hastily Ionnei Lyons
then tore his bed clothes into strips, with
which he made q rope and lowered him
self 90 the ground.
The steamer Sundower was anchored
at the falls. and, being short IF hands,
when Lyons volunteered to 20 To- wors
they accepted the offer The boat left
for southern waters The prison officials
searched high and low Tor him. bur he
could not be- found
In the meantime the Steamer >uudov-
er changed hands, and in rao years Ly-
ons had become her captain. He saved
money. and rtn in the Rel river trade
One time while on a visit % some new
friends 81 Deer Crees, Miss, ne conceiv-
ed the idea Of building a mammoth cot
ton gin Not having enough money If
his own he interested a wealthy planter
in bis scheme. AMI the gin was built.
Time brought them prosperity, and Dame
Fortune smiled her sweetest upon him.
His partner bad daughter. and size
and Lyons fell deeply IN love. The iI--
ter did not wish % we'd the Young lady
without telling them Of his former life, Of
which. prior % that time. he had been
my-teriously reticent Calling the young
lady and her father in.o the office one
dly, he made a clean breast Of the affair.
Vt it, conclusion he told the father that
he was in love with his daughter. amt
asked if he would give her % an escaped
convict. The old man considered the
matter. and finally gave his consent.
They were married and children grew
ap 90 bless the household His wle-s
flrher died. aud made over his property
10 his sou-in-law. Who was then worth i'm
the neighborhood of fftv thousand dol
hrs.
When the war broke out be joined the
Confederate army o. battle for -he south
He made d gallant soldier. and w1n dis
tinction for himself ON MANY q gury d-ld-
After peace again overspreat the land he
resumed business. and Is now q wealthy
and honored resident of Deer Creek. His
hair Is silvered and his face Is wrinkled,
but he is still hale aud hearty, and he
has almost reached three score Of
wears
some eight Or nine years ago a gentle
man passed through Deer Greek. and
stopped over night with Mr.. Lyons lie
mentioned that he vas from jefferson
vile. and the host pr1cee,l-I % tell him
his history.
Are y5u not afraid 20 taI me tll- Nr-
Lyons F said the gentleman
No. said the host. TEe people here
wouldn't see me arrested and taken back
to prison. and / defy tine officers To- at
tempt it,
The gentleman has since coTesponded
regularly with his southern host and
few davs ago. for the first time. related
the incident. The hole Lyons cut in the
prison Il still visible. although If has
been patched. and on the books Is mark
ed. -CaLvin Wells, escaped March $50.
1t is probable 10 attempt viii Pee mader5
bring him back and chat the man viii
spend the few remaining days 0f hi, lire
In the southern town in which hj- indus
srv won him % fortune